MPs Of All Stripes Celebrate Anti-Nuke Legislation

To mark the 20th anniversary of the passing of New Zealand's nuclear free legislation the Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament (PNND) invited MPs from across the political spectrum to appear on the steps of Parliament wearing Nuclear Free Aotearoa-New Zealand 'T' shirts and/or badges.

Few MPs went for the T-shirt only option owing to inclement Wellington weather however there was a good spectrum of MPs from all sides of the House. The majority of MPs taking part came from the Greens and Labour parties however there was a small Maori Party presence (though 66% of the party's MPs still currently in Aotearoa), at least two National MPs (Dr Nick Smith and Dr Paul Hutchison) and United Future Leader Peter Dunne.

Conspiciously absent were the two ACT Party MPs who earlier this morning had cosied up to the other self styled MMP Party Leaders (The Green Party, ACT, United Future and Maori Party Leaders) at a press conference called to debate MPs behaviour in the House.

While the days of ACT Leader Rodney Hide calling David Benson-Pope a 'pervert' in the House are apparently over their policy differences with the rest of Parliament's parties over NZ's nuclear free legislation still remain. Last week ACT National Security Spokesman Heather Roy pointed out in a press release that 'Labour's nuclear-free legislation has passed its use-by date.'

"New Zealand is at risk of external threats and can no longer rely on our allies to come to our aid when we have gone a long way towards alienating them," Ms Roy said in her press statement.

While National under John Key has re-iterated their commitment to New Zealand's nuclear free legislation it would seem there remains one party in New Zealand's Parliament still looking out for the interests of the United States and its military needs.

ENDS

Deaf Ears: Speaker On Support For Mojo Mathers

Scoop Audio: In a press conference this afternoon Speaker Lockwood Smith defended his handling of requests for support for profoundly deaf MP Mojo Mathers' participation in Parliament, and said he was "deeply concerned" by the way the issue had been portrayed.

Earlier today the Greens said they had been told they would have to fund support Mathers requires out of their own budget. More>>